Gathering and dispensing scoop with gate valve

ABSTRACT

A gathering and dispensing scoop with agitating gate valve provides a scoop body defining an upper opening, a bottom opening, and a channel extending therebetween. A handle extends radially from an outer peripheral surface of the scoop body. A gate valve transects the channel obstructing the bottom opening and has a user operable finger tab adjacent to the handle.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This utility patent application claims the benefit of earlier filed U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/629,055 filed on Nov. 14, 2011.The entire contents of aforementioned U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/629,055 are incorporated herein by this reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to containers, and more particularly tocontainers used for gathering and dispensing predetermined quantities offlowable powders and particulated solids.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For years the food supplement industry and sports drink industry(commonly soda drink manufacturers) hereinafter collectively referred toas the “nutrition industry” have produced and marketed fluidic productsthat are packaged in a manner that is ready to drink (RTD). Such RTDproducts are predominately available in single serving size containersand such containers are typically formed of plastic or metal.

The nutrition industry also encompasses the production, packaging anddistribution of a wide variety of powdered nutritional products that maybe added to liquids such as, but not limited to, water, milk and juices.Powdered nutritional products include, but are not limited to, itemssuch as baby formula, dietary supplements, sports drinks, vitaminadditives and flavor additives.

The nutrition industry has discovered the manufacture and sale ofnutritional products in powdered form is more economical that RTDproducts. Powdered products are easier and less costly to package andship because powdered products weigh less and have less volume. Powderedproducts are dry and are generally not subject to spoilage with age.Further, powdered products encourage use of re-usable bottles andcontainers which has the added benefit of reducing the consumption ofdisposable plastic and metal containers allowing manufacturers topromote their product as “being green” and environmentally sensitivewhile increasing profit margins by reducing costs. Further still,powdered products allow consumers more freedom than would otherwise beavailable because a powered product can be easily transported and thedrink may be made when needed. For example, parents with infants mightbe prevented from traveling if there was no ability to make infantformula during lengthy periods of travel on an airplane becauserefrigeration may not be available and because transport and storage ofliquids may be problematic or even prohibited by aviation securityregulations.

The nutrition industry has responded to these needs by producing singleserving size “tubes” of powdered mixes that are easily transportable.Unfortunately, such “tubes” and single size serving packaging haveincreased pollution of paper and plastic products, encouraged the use ofsingle serving size bottles of water and prevented end-consumers fromadjusting the concentration of the product added to a quantity of liquidto adjust for taste. My dispensing scoop with gate valve resolvesvarious of these continuing drawbacks and problems by providingend-consumers with the ability to adjust for taste and reducing the needfor single use containers.

Various types of packaging and containers are used in the powderednutritional product industry, including but not limited to, waxedcardboard containers, plastic jugs, metal containers and “tubs” ofvarious sizes. Typically such containers carry a bulk quantity ofproduct, which may be accessed through a large opening orifice,generally in a top portion of the container. Because the products arecommonly sold in bulk quantities, the opening orifice in the containertypically has a removable and re-sealable top and is large enough for auser to insert at least a portion of his/her hand into the containerwhile gripping a tool, such as a spoon or scoop for gathering a quantityof the product and for transferring the product to an end-use container,such as a baby bottle or a water bottle.

If a spoon, such as a teaspoon or tablespoon, is used to gather productfrom the container and transfer the product to an end-use container, itis difficult to consistently gather and thereafter dispense a consistentquantity of the product because the product is typically “heaped” uponthe spoon. This can be a significant issue when calorie control isimportant. Although a spoon defines a generally concave depression, aspoon generally does not have sufficiently tall perimeter wallssurrounding the concave depression to prevent some portion of theproduct from “sloughing off” the edges of the spoon. As a result, whenusing a spoon, it is difficult to control the quantity of the productbeing gathered and thereafter dispensed. Further, although spoons aretypically tapered at a “nose end” portion opposite a handle, spoons donot readily facilitate depositing the product into any end-use containerthat has an opening orifice smaller than a side-to-side dimension of thespoon. The result is that some portion of the product falls outside theopening orifice to the end-use container, causing a mess and waste ofthe product. This problem may be even greater if the person using thespoon does not have sufficient hand coordination and dexterity, forinstance young children.

One alternative to the use of spoons for gathering, and thereafterdispensing such products, has been to include a scoop within theoriginal packaging of the product and the scoop or spoon may beconfigured and sized for gathering a specified quantity of the productfor addition to a predetermined quantity of liquid, for instance onescoop of product per 12 ounces of water. Scoops make gathering anddispensing a consistent quantity of the product easier, but scoops alsohave continuing drawbacks. Scoops typically have small short handlesthat require a user to insert his/her entire hand into the productcontainer to gather the product. In addition, it is often difficult tofill and difficult to empty the material from the scoop. These drawbacksare exacerbated by the structure of known scoops and by the fact thatmany powdered nutritional products, such as infant formula, are a veryfine powdered particulate.

Scoops formed by injection molding and vacuum forming have generallyplaner bottom portions and integrally connected side walls, defining anair tight volume. Such air tight volumes allow air pockets to formwithin the scoop as the product is being scooped up. Such air pocketsprevent the scoop from filling completely with the powdered product. Ifthe scoop does not fill completely, the amount of product being gatheredand thereafter deposited into an end-use container such as a baby bottleis not adequate to create the desired/intended nutritionalconcentration. Another drawback to air tight scoops occurs when thescoop is completely filled with product. A vacuum may form within thevolume, causing the product contained within the volume to not “release”for depositing into the end-use container such as a baby bottle withoutagitation to release the vacuum. Further, and similar to the use oftableware spoons, after the scoop is filled with a quantity of product,the scoop needs to be inverted over the opening orifice of the end-usecontainer to empty the product. Inversion of the scoop frequently leadsto spillage of the product, and in many instances the scoop will have anopening orifice that is larger than the opening orifice of the end-usecontainer which leads to the same problem experienced with spoons, thepowdered material falling on the outside of the end-use container ratherthan passing through the opening orifice and into the end-use container.Again, the end result is inconsistent quantities of the powderednutritional material being added to the end-use container and difficultygathering and dispensing the powdered material. Finally, many knownscoops have a generally planer handle that extends radially from anupper edge portion of the scoop volume. The planer handle adjacent thescoop volume has a tendency to collect an amount of the product beingscooped up thereon and unless this “build up” is manually “brushed away”there is additional spoilage when the scoop is inverted for emptying.

Admittedly scoops have resolved some of the problems encountered byusers of powdered nutritional products. However, scoops have not solvedall of the problems associated with consistently gathering anddispensing consistent quantities of powdered nutritional supplementsinto end-use containers that have opening orifices smaller than thediameter of a spoon or scoop. Therefore, there remains a need for adevice which resolves these continuing needs.

My gathering and dispensing scoop with gate valve resolves various ofthe continuing problems associated with gathering and dispensingconsistent quantities of powdered and finely particulated products intoend-use containers. My invention has a scoop body defining a volume, anagitating gate valve, and a handle extending radially from the scoopbody. The volume is not air-tight so that air pockets do not form withinthe volume while product is being gathered and to prevent a vacuum whichmight prevent product from dispensing from the volume. The agitatinggate valve breaks surface tension that may form in powdered products toencourage the product to “release” from the volume for dispensing. Mygathering and dispensing scoop with gate valve need not be inverted todispense product into an end-use container because the agitating gatevalve optionally opens and closes an orifice defined in a bottom of thescoop body so that the product within the volume may be deposited intoan end-use container.

A dispensing chute may be attached to a bottom portion of the scoop bodyand the chute may have peripheral walls that taper inwardly, and mayfurther include steps defined therein for frictional engagement with arim of an opening orifice of a end-use container so that the dispensingchute may be accurately and consistently placed upon the end-usecontainer for depositing product therein without spillage even bypersons lacking hand coordination and dexterity such as young children.Inner surfaces of the dispensing chute are linear and smooth, withoutsteps or ridges, so that product within the volume slides therealong andthereacross for passage into the end-use container.

The agitating gate valve is moveable and is manipulated by a user toopen and close the gate valve as desired. The structure of my gatheringand dispensing scoop with gate valve allows single-hand (left or right)and single-finger use which is of paramount, importance, especially forparents who may be attempting to make a bottle of infant formula whileholding an infant in their arms.

Some or all of the problems explained above, and other problems, may behelped or solved by my invention shown and described herein. Myinvention may also be used to address other problems not set out hereinor which become apparent at a later time. The future may also bring tolight unknown benefits which may be in the future appreciated from thenovel invention shown and described herein.

SUMMARY

A gathering and dispensing scoop with agitating gate valve provides ascoop body defining an upper opening, a bottom opening, and a channelextending therebetween. A handle extends radially from an outerperipheral surface of the scoop body. A gate valve transects the channelobstructing the bottom opening forming a volume within the body and hasa user operable finger tab adjacent to the handle. A dispensing chutecommunicating with the channel and carried by scoop body adjacent thebottom opening provides for frictional engagement with opening orificerim of an end-use container.

In providing such a gathering and dispensing scoop with gate valve itis:

a principal object to provide a gathering and dispensing scoop having aone-finger operable gate valve.

a further object to provide a gathering and dispensing scoop that doesnot need to be inverted to empty contents therefrom.

a further object to provide a gathering and dispensing scoop that doesnot form air pockets while gathering product.

a further object to provide a gathering and dispensing scoop that doesnot create a vacuum when emptying contents therefrom.

a further object to provide a gathering and dispensing scoop having agate valve that agitates product within the channel when the gate valveis operated.

a further object to provide a gathering and dispensing scoop having agate valve that optionally obstructs the bottom opening.

a further object to provide a gathering and dispensing scoop having agate valve that transects the medial channel by sliding thereacross.

a further object to provide a gathering and dispensing scoop having agate valve that is flat.

a further object to provide a gathering and dispensing scoop having agate valve that pivots on an axis of rotation.

a further object to provide a gathering and dispensing scoop having agate valve that pivots on two axes of rotation.

a further object to provide a gathering and dispensing scoop that isoperable with a left hand and with a right hand.

a further object to provide a gathering and dispensing scoop defining avolume that is not air tight.

a further object to provide a gathering and dispensing scoop thatprovides consistent uniform dosing.

a further object to provide a gathering and dispensing scoop that has adispensing chute for depositing contents in an end-use container withoutspillage.

a further object to provide a gathering and dispensing scoop thatconsistently completely fills with product and consistently completelyempties product therefrom.

a further object to provide a gathering and dispensing scoop for usewith powdered infant formula and baby bottles.

a further object to provide a gathering and dispensing scoop for usewith small-neck water bottles.

a further object to provide a gathering and dispensing scoop for usewith fine particulate, flowable nutritional supplements.

a further object to provide a gathering and dispensing scoop having aspring-biased gate valve.

a further object to provide a gathering and dispensing scoop thatpromotes use of powdered products to reduce pollution and reduce use ofRTD products in disposable containers.

a further object to provide a gathering and dispensing scoop that isstackable with similar scoops of differing size volumes.

a still further object to provide gathering and dispensing scoop forpowdered nutritional products that is of new and novel design, of ruggedand durable nature, of simple and economic manufacture, and one that isotherwise well-suited to the uses and purposes for which it is intended.

Other and further objects of my invention will appear from the followingspecification and accompanying drawings which form a part herein. Incarrying out the objects of my invention, it is to be understood thatits structures and features are susceptible to change in design andarrangement and size, with only one preferred and practical embodimentof the best known mode being illustrated in the accompanying drawingsand specified as is required.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Specific forms, configurations, embodiments and/or diagrams relating toand helping to describe preferred versions of the invention areexplained and characterized herein, often with reference to theaccompanying drawings. The drawings and all features shown therein alsoserve as part of the disclosure of the invention whether described intext or merely by graphical disclosure alone. Such drawings are brieflydescribed below.

FIG. 1 is an isometric top, side and handle end view of my dispensingscoop showing the gate valve in a closed position.

FIG. 2 is an isometric top, side and handle end view of my gathering anddispensing scoop showing the gate valve pivoted to an open position.

FIG. 3 is an orthographic first side view of the gathering anddispensing scoop of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an orthographic second side view of the gathering anddispensing scoop of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an orthographic top downward looking view of the gathering anddispensing scoop of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an orthographic bottom upward looking view of the gatheringand dispensing scoop of FIG. 1 showing the biasing spring.

FIG. 7 is an orthographic scoop body end view of the gathering anddispensing scoop of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is an orthographic handle end view of the gathering anddispensing scoop of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is an isometric top, first side and handle end view of a secondembodiment of my gathering and dispensing scoop having an agitating gatevalve that slides axially along the handle showing the gate valve in aclosed position.

FIG. 10 is an isometric top, first side and handle end view similar tothat of FIG. 9 showing the agitating gate valve in an open position.

FIG. 10 a is an orthographic, partial cut-away bottom upward lookingview of the gathering and dispensing scoop handle of FIG. 9 showing thegate valve tracks and the lug tabs.

FIG. 11 is an isometric top, first side and handle end view of a thirdembodiment of my gathering and dispensing scoop having a sector shapedvalve that pivots on two pivot axles showing the gate valve in a closedposition.

FIG. 12 is a partial cut-away isometric top, first side and handle endview of the gathering and dispensing scoop of FIG. 11 showing the sectorshaped gate valve pivoted to an open position.

FIG. 13 is an orthographic, top downward looking view of the gatheringand dispensing scoop of FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 is an orthographic second side view of the gathering anddispensing scoop of FIG. 11, the first side being the same.

FIG. 15 is an orthographic bottom upward looking view of the gatheringand dispensing scoop of FIG. 11.

FIG. 16 is an orthographic handle end view of the gathering anddispensing scoop of FIG. 11.

FIG. 17 is an orthographic scoop body end view of the gathering anddispensing scoop of FIG. 11.

FIG. 18 is an orthographic handle end view of the gate valve of FIG. 11removed from the scoop body.

FIG. 19 is an enlarged orthographic scoop body end view similar to thatof FIG. 17 showing the gate valve pivoted to an open position showingthe path of movement of the gate valve in dashed outline.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Introductory Notes

The readers of this document should understand that the embodimentsdescribed herein may rely on terminology used in any section of thisdocument and other terms readily apparent from the drawings and thelanguage common therefore as may be known in a particular art and suchas known or indicated and provided by dictionaries. Dictionaries wereused in the preparation of this document. Widely known and used in thepreparation hereof are Webster's Third New International Dictionary (©2093), The Oxford English Dictionary (Second Edition, ©2089), The NewCentury Dictionary (©2001-2005) and the American Heritage Dictionary ofthe English Language (4th Edition ©2000) all of which are herebyincorporated by reference for interpretation of terms used herein andfor application and use of words defined in such references to moreadequately or aptly describe various features, aspects and conceptsshown or otherwise described herein using more appropriate words havingmeanings applicable to such features, aspects and concepts.

This document is premised upon using one or more terms or features shownin one embodiment that may also apply to or be combined with otherembodiments for similar structures, functions, features and aspects ofthe invention and provides additional embodiments of the invention.Wording used in the claims is also descriptive of the invention and thetext of both claims and abstract are incorporated by reference into thedescription entirely. Terminology used with one, some or all embodimentsmay be used for describing and defining the technology and exclusiverights associated herewith.

The readers of this document should further understand that theembodiments described herein may rely on terminology and features usedin any section or embodiment shown in this document and other termsreadily apparent from the drawings and language common or propertherefore.

The term “product” as used herein is to be understood as includingwithout limitation powdered products, granulated products, particulatedsolids and flowable solids and the like that may be gathered into thescoop by a user and thereafter dispensed from the scoop into anothercontainer. Although primarily directed at flowable finely particulatedsolids intended for combination with a liquid such as, but not limitedto, powdered baby formula and nutritional supplements, the term“product” as used herein is inclusive of all products and materialsgathered and dispensed with the scoop.

Overview of the Apparatus

My gathering and dispensing scoop with gate valve generally provides ascoop body 10, a handle 20 and a gate valve 30.

The scoop body 10 defines an upper opening 11 having a diameter 14, abottom opening 12 having a diameter 19 and a channel 13 extending fromthe upper opening 11 to the bottom opening 12. The channel 13 has anaxis 38 and defines a volume 15 when the bottom opening 12 is obstructedby the gate valve 30. The volume 15 is sized so that a predeterminedquantity of product (not shown) may be gathered within the scoop body 10for transfer to and dispensing into another container such as a waterbottle (not shown) or baby bottle (not shown). Volume 15 of the scoopbody 10 may vary from scoop to scoop by changing the dimensions of thebody 10 such as by changing the diameter 14 of the upper opening 11 andthe diameter 19 of the bottom opening 12 and/or by increasing a depth ofthe channel 13 to create scoops for gathering and dispensing differentquantities of product.

Handle 20 is rigid and extends generally radially from the scoop body10. The handle 20 has a first end portion 21 proximate the scoop body 10and a second end portion 22 distal from the scoop body 10. The handle 20is structurally interconnected with an outer circumferential wall 16 ofthe scoop body 10 to provide ease of manipulation of the scoop body 10.

The gate valve 30 is somewhat planer, having a generally disc-shapedchannel blocking portion 31 at one end portion, and a handle portion 32extending radially from the channel blocking portion 31. The channelblocking portion 31 is of a size to completely transect the channel 13adjacent the bottom opening 12 obstructing the channel 13 so that a usermay gather and transport a predetermined quantity of product within thevolume 15. The channel blocking portion 31 of the gate valve 30communicates with the scoop body 10 and transects the channel 13 bymoving through a gate valve slot 18 defined in the outer circumferentialwall 16 of the scoop body 10.

As shown in FIG. 2, the slide gate 30 pivots relative to the handle 20on a pivot axle 80 (FIG. 6) that extends through top surface 29 of thehandle 20. The pivoting motion of the slide gate 30 relative to thescoop body 10 causes the channel blocking portion 31 of the slide gate30 to enter the gate valve slot 18 from a side portion of the scoop body10. As the gate valve 30 pivots about pivot axle 80 the handle endportion 32 of the gate valve 30 pivots laterally outwardly diametricallyopposite the channel blocking portion 31.

A locking notch 81 is defined in a first lateral edge portion 82 of thehandle portion 32 opposite the channel blocking portion 31. A lockingtab 84 is carried on the top surface 29 of the handle 20 and isconfigured and biased to releasably in engage with the locking notch 81when the gate valve 30 is pivoted to a closed position (FIG. 1). Arotation limiting lip 85 is carried on a lateral edge of the handle 20and extends vertically upwardly therefrom generally medially between thefirst end portion 21 and the second end portion 22 and spacedly adjacentthe locking tab 84. The rotation limiting lip 85 provides a physicallimit upon the pivotal rotation of the gate valve 30 and provides theuser with a visual indicator of when the gate valve 30 is fully closed.Further, the rotation limiting lip 85 tends to prevent any “pinching” auser's skin or finger during the closing and opening of the gate valve30.

As shown in FIG. 6, the gate valve 30 is biased to an open position, orto a closed position by spring 86 which communicates with the pivot axle80. In the preferred embodiment the spring 86 engages with a diametricnotch 87 defined in the pivot axle 80. Depending upon the position andtension of the spring 86, the gate valve 30 may be biased to either anopen position (FIG. 2) or to a closed position (FIG. 1) depending uponthe users desire. If the gate valve 30 is biased by spring 86 to an openposition, engagement of the locking tab 84 with the locking notch 81will retain the gate valve 30 in a closed position until the useroperates the locking tab 84 which responsively disengages from thelocking notch 81 and releases the gate valve 30 to pivot about pivotaxle 80 under the biasing of spring 86 to cause the gate valve 30 toopen allowing product (not shown) within the volume 15 to pass throughthe bottom opening 12.

If the spring 86 is configured and oriented to bias the gate valve to aclosed position, operator activation of the locking tab 84 allows theuser to pivot the handle end portion 32 of the gate valve 30 laterallyoutwardly away from the rotation limiting lip 85 with the user's thumb.As the handle end portion 32 pivots outwardly about the pivot axle 80the channel blocking portion 31 pivots outwardly from the gate valveslot 18 responsively opening the bottom opening 12 and allowing product(not shown) to pass therethrough.

In a second preferred embodiment, (FIGS. 9, 10 and 10 a) the gate valve30 is somewhat planer, having a generally disc-shaped channel blockingportion 31 at one end portion, and a handle portion 32 extendingradially from the channel blocking portion 31. Channel blocking portion31 has a diameter 14 sized and configured to completely transect thechannel 13 adjacent the bottom opening 12 so that a user may gather andtransport a predetermined quantity of product (not shown) within thevolume 15. The gate valve 30 communicates with the scoop body 10 andtransects the channel 13 by moving through a slide gate slot 18 definedin outer circumferential wall 16 of the scoop body 10 adjacent theinterconnection of the scoop body 10 and the handle 20.

The handle portion 32 of the gate valve 30 defines a finger grip 35 thatmay have various known configurations and sizes to promote engagementwith a user's finger (not shown) during use, such as but not limited to,a raised ridge or a grip enhancing surface texture.

Gate valve track 23 is defined in the handle 20 and extends radiallyaway from the scoop body 10. As shown in FIG. 10 a, two parallelspacedly adjacent gate valve tracks 23 are defined in the handle 20,with one gate valve track 23 proximate each lateral edge of the handle20. Lugs (not shown) are carried on a bottom surface of the handleportion 32 and extend generally perpendicularly therefrom in a downwarddirection. Tabs 37 are carried on end portions of the lugs (not shown)opposite the handle portion 32 and provide positional maintenance of thegate valve 30 within the gate valve tracks 23 defined in the handle 20.Lateral edge portions 25 of the handle 20 extend perpendicularlyrelative to top surface 29 of the handle 20 forming a recess 42 on anunderside of the handle 20 so that the lugs (not shown) and tabs 35 donot strike the user's hand during operation of the gate valve 30. Thelateral edge portions 25 are curvilinear on bottom edge portions tocreate an ergonomic and user friendly “feel” and “grip” within a user'shand. The lateral edge portions 25 of the handle 20 may also extendupwardly above top surface 29 of the handle 20 forming a recess 43 toguide movement of the handle portion 32 of the gate valve 30 as it movesalong the top surface 29 of the handle 20 during operation. A hole 44may be defined in the handle 20 opposite the scoop body 10 to allow thescoop to hang upon a hook or the like for storage.

As the gate valve 30 slides along the handle 20 the lugs (not shown)carrying tabs 27 move within the slide gate tracks 23. Movement of thegate valve 30 along the handle 20 allows the channel blocking portion 31to pass into and also be withdrawn from the gate valve slot 18, definedwithin the scoop body 10. When the channel blocking portion 31 of thegate valve 30 is inserted through the gate valve slot 18, the channelblocking portion 31 transects the channel 13, so that the channel 13defines volume 15. When the channel blocking portion 31 of the gatevalve 30 is drawn rearwardly away from the scoop body 10 (FIG. 10), thechannel blocking portion 31 of the gate valve 30 is nearly completelywithdrawn from the gate valve slot 18 allowing product contained withinthe volume 15 to pass downwardly through the bottom opening 12 and intoan end-use container (not shown).

Best shown in FIG. 10, half 31 a of the channel blocking portion 31proximate the handle portion 32 is diametrically larger than half 31 bof the channel blocking portion 31 opposite the handle portion 32. Thediametric enlargement of the channel blocking portion 31 a provides twodiametrically opposed, radially extending ledges 34 that extend radiallyoutwardly from peripheral edge of the channel blocking portion 31. Theledges 34 frictionally communicate with terminal edge portions 36 of thegate valve slot 18 that are diametrically opposed to one another, andapproximately 90° offset from a center line (not shown) of the radiallyextending handle 20. The ledges 34 provide a secure and firm mechanicalinterconnection between the gate valve 30 and the scoop body 10 whengate valve 30 is transecting the channel 13. As shown in FIG. 10, whenthe gate valve 30 is fully retracted from the channel 13, terminal endportion 53 of the channel blocking portion 31, is completely withdrawnfrom the channel 13 but is not completely withdrawn from the gate valveslot 18, so that the gate valve 30 is positionally maintained on thehandle 20 and remains in alignment with the gate valve slot 18.

In a third embodiment FIGS. 11-17, the scoop body 10 is somewhathemispherical in shape defining a concave channel 13 having an upperopening 11 that is diametrically larger than a bottom opening 12. Axlesupports 60 are carried at diametrically opposite positions on an uppercircumferential edge 67 of the upper opening 11 and are radially alignedwith the handle 20. The axle supports 60 positionally maintain androtatably carry sector shaped gate valve 30 on pivot axles 61 thatextend radially outwardly from diametrically opposed positions on thegate valve 30. The axle supports 60 may have a variety of knownconfigurations to positionally maintain the pivot axles 61 therein whileallowing operator initiated rotation of the sector shaped gate valve 30on pivot axles 61. Such configurations may include, but not be limitedto one or two upwardly opening “C” shaped structures that allow pivotaxles 61 to be “snapped” into and out of the axle supports 60, and alsoperhaps axle holes (not shown) into which end portions (not shown) ofpivot axles 61 may be inserted.

The gate valve 30 has a configuration similar to the concave shape ofthe channel 13 and is sized so that the gate valve 30 is movably carriedwithin the channel 13 with the pivot axles 61 engaged within the axlesupports 60. The gate valve 30 has a configuration similar to a sectorof a hollow sphere such that an exterior (bottom) surface 62 of the gatevalve 30 is convex in shape while an interior (upper) surface 63 of thegate valve 30 is concave in shape similar to the interior concavehemispherical shape of the channel 13. The size of the gate valve 30 issuch that its exterior bottom surface 62 is immediately spacedlyadjacent inner surface 64 of the channel 13 and yet is movablethere-within on the pivot axles 61. Lateral edge portions 69 of the gatevalve 30 are tapered toward the edges to have a minimal cross-sectionalthickness and an angle 70 between the opposing lateral edge portions 69relative to an axis of rotation 71 is preferably about 135 degrees butmay be as much as 150 degrees and as little as 40 degrees depending uponthe diameter 19 of the bottom opening 12. It is essential that the angle70 be sufficiently large that the gate valve 30 completely obstruct thebottom opening 12 when the gate valve 30 is in a closed position.Necessarily, the spaced apart lateral edge portions 69 must have adistance therebetween that is larger than the diameter 19 of the bottomopening 12. In the preferred embodiment, when one lateral edge 69 of thegate valve 30 is equal in height with the upper circumferential edge 67of the scoop body 10, the opposing lateral edge 69 of the gate valve 30is adjacent circumferential edge (not shown) of the bottom opening 12.It is to be understood however that the scoop body 10 and the gate valve30 may have shapes other than hemispherical, or round, such as but notlimited to, oval shapes.

When the gate valve 30 is in a closed position, as shown in FIGS. 11,13, 16 and 17 the gate valve 30 obstructs the bottom opening 12. Whenthe gate valve 30 is pivoted about pivot axles 61 on the axis ofrotation 71 as shown in FIG. 12 the bottom opening 12 is unobstructedallowing product (not shown) within the volume 15 to pass through thebottom opening 12 and into an end-use container (not shown).

Finger tab 65 is structurally carried on one pivot axle 61. Preferably,the pivot axle 61 carrying the finger tab 65 is positioned within theaxle support 60 adjacent the handle 20 so that the finger tab 65 iseasily accessible by a user's thumb during operation. Manually movingthe finger tab 65 to the left, or to the right, as viewed from thehandle 20 (FIG. 16), causes the gate valve 30 to pivot about the axles61 causing the gate valve 30 to either obstruct/close the bottom opening12 or pivot upwardly away from the bottom opening 12 to allow product(not shown) within the volume 15 to pass downwardly through the bottomopening 12.

Movement/rotation of the gate valve 30 on pivot axles 61 agitatesproduct contained within the volume 15 and disrupts any surface tensionthat might exist within the product which might prevent the product fromflowing through the bottom opening 12. Further, as shown in FIG. 17,when the gate valve 30 is pivoted about the axis of rotation 71 torelease the product contained within the volume 15 through the bottomopening 12, lateral edge portions 69 of the gate valve 30 move in an arcthat extends over the upper opening 11 towards the axis of rotation 71of the gate valve 30. Because the lateral edge portion 69 of the gatevalve 30 never passes laterally outwardly of a line 72 tangent to anupper circumferential edge 67 of the scoop body 10, product within thevolume 15 is not pushed up and over the upper circumferential edge 67 ofthe scoop body 10 by movement of the gate valve 30. Rather, any productthat is displaced by movement of the gate valve 30 is pushed laterallyinwardly toward the axis of rotation 71 of the gate valve 30 whichminimizes any product spillage caused by operation of the gate valve 30.

The gate valve 30 may be detached from the scoop body 10 for cleaning,maintenance and the like by removing the pivot axles 61 from the axlesupports 60.

Bottom surface 24 of the handle 20 proximate the scoop body 10 maydefine a cavity 28 into which the finger tab 65 of another scoop may becarried if various sizes of scoops are stacked together with the scoopbody 10 of one scoop carried within the channel 13 of a larger scoopbody 10.

In another contemplated embodiment that facilitates stacking of varioussizes of scoops the handle 20 is carried by the scoop body 10 spacedlyadjacent the upper opening 11 and extends radially from an outerperipheral wall 16 of the scoop body 10. The gate valve 30 passes intoand out of gate valve slot 18 defined in the scoop body 10, but in thiscontemplated embodiment, the channel blocking portion 31 is verticallyoffset from the handle portion 32 which communicates with finger grip 35carried on an upper surface 29 of the handle 20. The finger grip 35 isreleasably joined to the handle portion 32 of the gate valve 30 by knownmeans such as by studs (not shown) that extend through the gate valvetracks 23 to engage with the handle portion 32 of the gate valve 30.Forward and rearward movement of the finger grip 35 along with thehandle 20 causes the gate valve 30 to open and close the bottom opening12 by transecting the channel 13, and by being removed from the channel13. The vertical offsetting of the handle 20 and gate valve 30 permitsco-axial stacking of various sized scoops.

In still another embodiment it is contemplated the gate valve 30 ispivotal on a vertical pivot axle 61 to transect the channel 13 andobstruct the bottom opening 12. In this contemplated embodiment the gatevalve 30 is moved by a user's thumb manually moving the finger tab 65which is positioned proximate the scoop body 10 on the handle 20 andspacedly adjacent the upper opening 11 of the scoop body 10. Astrengthening boss carried on the outer peripheral wall 16 of the scoopbody 10 may journal the pivot axle 61 to add rigidity.

Construction and Materials of the Apparatus

The scoop body 10, the handle 20 and the gate valve 30 are preferablyformed of a type of plastic or other food safe material such as but notlimited to stainless steel through known methods such as injectionmolding, blow molding, vacuum forming, roto-molding, casting andstamping. It is preferable that the scoop body 10 and handle 20 beformed in a unitary piece, and that the gate valve 30 similarly beformed in a unitary piece, separately from the scoop body 10.

The molding process, be it injection molding, blow molding, vacuumforming or roto-molding, is preferable to keep costs at a minimum andalso to form the various elements of the apparatus, including theangles, depressions and slots defined therein. However, othermanufacturing techniques which are similarly known may similarly be usedif, for instance, “high end” cooking scoops are being manufactured ofstainless steel, in which case known manufacturing techniques forstainless steel and metal alloys would be used.

Having described the structure of my gathering and dispensing scoop withgate valve, its operation may be understood.

Assuming the scoop is not within a container (not shown) of product, andis readily accessible for use, a user would grasp the handle 20 with onehand and position it so that the user's fingers wrap around the handle20 and preferably the user's thumb (not shown) is in frictionalcommunication with the handle portion 32 of the gate valve 30. Assumingthe gate valve 30 is biased by spring 86 to an open position (FIG. 2)the user should push the channel blocking portion 31 of the gate valve30 laterally toward the gate valve slot 18 so that the gate valve 30pivots on pivot axle 80. When the channel blocking portion 31 of thegate valve 30 has fully transected the channel 13 and closed the bottomopening 12, the first lateral edge 82 of the handle portion 32 should bein frictional contact with the rotation limiting lip 85 and the lockingtab 84 shall engage with the locking notch 81 to positionally maintainthe gate valve 30 in a closed position.

The scoop body 10 is maneuvered into the container (not shown) throughan opening orifice (not shown) defined therein and is maneuvered suchthat a quantity of the material is gathered within the volume 15. Thematerial enters the volume 15 through the upper opening 11 and passesinto the volume 15, completely filling the volume 15 because any airbubbles and the like that might form pass through the gate valve slot 18or through the bottom opening 12. The product gathered in the volume 15frictionally rests upon an upper surface of the gate valve 30 that istransecting the channel 13 and obstructing the bottom opening 12. Ifdesired, the user may remove any “heaping” amounts of the product offthe top of the scoop body 10 so that the quantity of product isconsistent.

The user would then maneuver the filled scoop body 10 to a positionadjacent above an opening orifice (not shown) of a container, such as awater bottle (not shown), or baby bottle (not shown). The user wouldthen maneuver the scoop body 10 into position wherein the bottom opening12 of the scoop body 10 is in frictional contact with an upper edgeportion (not shown) of the end-use container. The user then, withhis/her thumb, operates the locking tab 84 which allows the spring 86 topivot the gate valve 30 to an open position. Operation of the gate valve30 effectively opens the channel 13 by removing the obstructing gatevalve 30, which allows the product within the volume 15 to passdownwardly, under the influence of gravity, through the channel 13 andout through the bottom opening 12 for depositing in the end-usecontainer. If additional product is to be gathered and deposited intothe end-use container, the process described above, is repeated.Movement of the gate valve 30 agitates the product within the volume 15,which encourages the product to flow and disrupts surface tension thatmay exist within the product.

Interpretation Notes

The above description has set out various features, functions, methodsand other aspects of the invention. This has been done with regard tothe currently preferred embodiments thereof. Time and furtherdevelopment may change the manner in which the various aspects areimplemented. Such aspects may further be added to by the language of theclaims which are incorporated by reference hereinto as originally filed.The scope of protection accorded the invention, as defined by theclaims, is not intended to be necessarily limited to the specific sizes,shapes, features or other aspects of the currently preferred embodimentshown and described. The claimed invention may be implemented orembodied in other forms still being within the concepts shown, describedand claimed herein. Also included are equivalents of the invention whichcan be made without departing from the scope or concepts properlyprotected hereby.

The foregoing description of my invention is necessarily of a detailednature so that a specific embodiment of a best mode may be set forth asis required, but it is to be understood that various modifications ofdetails, sizes, and rearrangement, substitution and multiplication ofthe parts may be resorted to without departing from its spirit, essenceor scope.

Having thusly described my invention, the preferred embodiment and itsuse, I pray issuance of UTILITY LETTERS PATENT.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A scoop for gathering and dispensing aquantity of a dry flowable solid comprising in combination: a gatheringscoop body defining an upper opening having a first diameter and abottom opening having a second diameter spaced apart from the upperopening, the scoop body having an outer circumferential surface anddefining an unobstructed downwardly and inwardly tapered channelcommunicating between the upper opening and the bottom opening; a handlehaving a first end portion communicating with the outer circumferentialsurface of the scoop body and a second end portion spaced apart from thescoop body; a gate valve slot defined in the outer circumferentialsurface of the scoop body, the gate valve slot extending diametricallyacross the scoop body spacedly adjacent interconnection of the handleand the scoop body and perpendicular to an axis of the handle; and agate valve communicating with the gate valve slot movable between afirst position completely transecting the channel defined by the scoopbody and obstructing the bottom opening and a second position completelyremoved from the channel defined by the scoop body and not obstructingthe bottom opening, the gate valve having a disc shaped channel blockingportion at a first end portion with a diameter greater than the seconddiameter that passes into and out of the gate valve slot to entirelytransect the channel defined by the body and obstructing the bottomopening and be removed from entirely transecting the channel andobstructing the bottom opening, and a handle portion at a second endportion of the gate valve that communicates with an upper surface of thehandle.
 2. The scoop of claim 1 wherein: the gate valve movesperpendicularly to an axis of the channel defined by the scoop body. 3.The scoop of claim 1 wherein: the gate valve is spring biased to an openposition.
 4. The scoop of claim 1 wherein: the gate valve is springbiased to a closed position.
 5. The scoop of claim 1 wherein: the handleis carried by the scoop body outer circumferential surface at a positionadjacent the top opening; and the channel blocking portion of the gatevalve and the handle are is vertically offset from each other the handleto slide into and out of the gate valve slot defined in the scoop bodyto completely transect the channel defined by the scoop body.
 6. A scoopfor gathering and dispensing a quantity of a dry flowable solidcomprising in combination: a gathering scoop body defining an upperopening and a bottom opening spaced apart from the upper opening, thescoop body having an outer circumferential surface and defining anuninterrupted inwardly and downwardly tapered channel extending from theupper opening to the bottom opening; a handle extending radially fromthe scoop body having a first end portion communicating with the outercircumferential surface of the scoop body and a second end portionspaced apart from the scoop body; a gate valve slot defined in the outercircumferential surface of the scoop body spacedly adjacent theinterconnection of the handle and the scoop body the gate valve slotextending diametrically across the scoop body perpendicular to an axisof the handle; a gate valve communicating with the handle movablebetween a first position within the gate valve slot completelytransecting the channel defined by the scoop body and completelyobstructing the bottom opening and a second position completelywithdrawn from the gate valve slot, the gate valve having a generallyplanar channel blocking portion at a first end-portion that is movableinto and out of the gate valve slot and a handle portion extendingradially from the generally planar channel blocking obstructing portion,and the generally planar channel blocking portion has a diameter that islarger than diameter of the channel defined by the scoop body.
 7. Thescoop of claim 6 further comprising: a finger grip carried by the gatevalve handle on a top surface thereof to assist in single finger manualmovement of the gate valve.
 8. The scoop of claim 6 further comprising:a spring biasing the gate valve to one position.
 9. The scoop of claim 6wherein: the handle is carried by the scoop body outer circumferentialsurface at a position adjacent the top opening; and the channel blockingportion of the gate valve and the handle are vertically offset from eachother the handle to slide into and out of the gate valve slot defined inthe scoop body to completely transect the channel defined by the scoopbody.